Question

The following JSON structure:

{
    "details":
    [
        {"specific_exercise.distance" : "14",},
        {"specific_exercise.avg_pace" : "7.5"}
    ]
}

converts to this when using json_decode():

stdClass Object
(
    [details] => Array
        (
            [0] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [specific_exercise.distance] => 14
                )

            [1] => stdClass Object
                (
                    [specific_exercise.avg_pace] => 7.5
                )
        )
)

Instead I’d like to have this converted into this:

stdClass Object
(
    [details] => Array
        (
            [specific_exercise.distance] => 14
            [specific_exercise.avg_pace] => 7.5
        )

)

What’s the best way to convert from the json_decode() structure to the more effective PHP structure?

Answer 1

Changing your JSON probably will be better solution if you have control over that, for example

{
    "details":
    {
        "specific_exercise.distance" : "14",
        "specific_exercise.avg_pace" : "7.5"
    }
}

EDIT:

Then you can use this method:

function parseJsonFormat($json)
{
    $json_object = json_decode($json);
    $details_result = array();
    foreach($json_object['details'] as $detail)
    {
         $details_result = array_merge($details_result, get_object_vars($detail));
    }
    $json_object['details'] = $details_result;
    return $json_object;
}

You can further modify the method to work for each array not just details key.